Miami University and Diversity: 1998 Fact Sheet

11/24/1998

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A statement from Miami President James C. Garland on diversity:

"The challenge is to create a community where people of different races and backgrounds can learn to live together in harmony and mutual respect and where all individuals can achieve their God-given potentials. Although we have made significant progress at Miami, it is also clear we have much left to do. That the job is difficult, however, must not deter us from our goals."

Minority enrollment

Minority enrollment on the Oxford campus has almost doubled in the past 10 years--from 637 students in the fall of 1988 to 1,209 in the fall of 1998. The number of black students in the same period increased from 369 to 616--a 67 percent increase.

Over a shorter time frame there has also been steady progress. In the past three years minority enrollment on the Oxford campus has jumped 24 percent (from 974 to 1,209). The number of African Americans enrolled has increased by 30 percent (from 473 to 616).

Minority faculty

On the Oxford campus, there are 74 minorities among 791 faculty members, including 31 African Americans. In 1992, there were 61 minorities among 762 faculty members, including 22 African Americans.

Minority retention

More than 87 percent of our minority freshmen return for their sophomore years.

Scholarships

Miami has nearly doubled its diversity scholarship dollars since 1996-97. We project to spend about $3.25 million for diversity scholarships this year (1998-99) on the Oxford campus. In 1996-97, we spent $1.66 million.

Athletic graduation rates

The most recent NCAA report shows that Miami's graduation rate for African-American athletes finishing in six years or less was 58 percent. The average for all NCAA Division I public universities is 41 percent.

Programming efforts

Mosaic, an experimental project that began in 1997-98, involves freshmen volunteers who live in the same residence hall and meet in small groups of about 10 for two hours a week with faculty members to explore issues such as race, religion, class, sexual orientation--issues that are often uncomfortable to discuss. The data show that as students learn to communicate openly and honestly across difference, they grow in understanding, empathy and as individuals. The project has grown from about 70 students to 120.